Okay, I am already thinking about when I can go back. This was a good spot for remote work. I ordered an ube chai latte with oat milk. It was absolutely delicious but I was a little put off that they charge extra for oat milk. Also, there was an extra charge for ube, but I ordered an ube chai from their menu? Nonetheless it was amazing. For food I first got the pan de sal slider with longanisa with a side of hash brown. I liked this pan de sal better than Kasama's. The sandwich is smaller though, so I ended up going back and ordering a slider with tocino too. The sandwich is very messy because of the yolk so I recommend asking for utensils if you don't want to get the yolk all over your hands. The hashbrown was nice and crispy and not greasy at all. On my way out I ordered the lumpia and coconut pork bowl to take home for my husband. He really enjoyed the coconut pork! read more

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Went back again the same week! Really a lovely place to vibe and study. It's easy to order at the counter and sit down. They bring your items to you. I tried their White Rabbit latte and the iced version of the ube latte. The iced version had pretty layers, make sure to mix before drinking! I still like the hot latte version because I think it brings out the potato-y flavor better. The white rabbit latte didn't really taste like white rabbit candy. It seemed similar to a white chocolate mocha but I guess White Rabbit candy is just condensed milk so it's not too unexpected. The calamansi was refreshing. Like a tart orange juice with a hint of bitterness. I tried their beef patty breakfast bowl because I was craving something saucy. The gravy was amazing to mix into the rice and the patty was almost the size of the bowl! Would love if the gravy was an option for all the bowls. I also tried a bit of the candied tocino bacon and it was delicious!! Sweet and salty, not a crispy as I hoped but still very tasty. read more

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What a cute cafe! Went in for a quick breakfast on a Monday around 10:15am and the shop was pretty quiet. I could see how it would get busy and packed on the weekends. The Ube Latte was delicious and the breakfast slider and hash brown were perfect! Super reasonably priced too!! I personally preferred this Longanisa slider over another local cafe made famous by a certain Chicago based tv show (if you catch my drift). Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area or on the hunt for the best breakfast sandwich in Chicago! I will be back :) read more

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I came here on a weekday morning and there was only one other table occupied at the time. The bench seating is kind of awkward since the bench is much lower than the table. I shared the longanisa silog with hubby (2 pieces longanisa, fried egg, garlic rice, green onion), lumpia, pandan latte, and ube latte. I was concerned that the lattes would be too sweet so the barista only used two pumps at first and let me try it. It wasn't that sweet and the flavor was mild so she added another pump and it was much better. Both lattes were good but I preferred the pandan latte since it is more unique. The longanisa silog was decent but wish that the garlic rice had a stronger garlic flavor. The longanisa was pretty oily but I guess that is to be expected. The lumpia are small (6 pieces per order) so we got two orders but were good so we devoured them quickly. Overall, would come back to try other items on the drink menu! read more

Came here for breakfast on a Saturday morning - super early. The outside ambiance and decor is so cute yet sleek. I love its simplicity yet boldness to attract folks. It is small enough to make it cozy yet large enough to house groups of people if wanted. My friend and I decided to grab some bites and drinks. I adore and appreciate the need for Filipino cuisine in this neighborhood with really great prices. I ordered the Silog burger steak breakfast bowl along with a Pandan Pistachio milk chai latte. My friend ordered some fries and tea. My bowl was incredibly tasty - the gravy was really good and wish there was more. I did think the garlic rice was overly greasy and could have used way less oil. The fries were well-seasoned and crisp. The pandan chai latte was the best item I ordered. Never have I ever been offered pistachio milk as a milk alternative. It added depth and flavor to the beverage. I do plan to return and try their dinner and some of their desserts! read more

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I loved this place! When I saw that this place was a Modern Filipino Coffee Shop/Breakfast spot, I just had to go. I've been on the search for some of the best coffee spots that incorporate ube and pandan in their drinks and I just wokeup craving Filipino food, so this was a given. I'm also not from here so I was excited to see what it was like in Chicago. The area it was in was cute and charming, it wasn't too busy and it was in a relatively clean area. I would say parking can either be really easy or a bit of a challenge. We got lucky and got parking on a side street where we didn't have to pay, and it was right around the corner from the coffee shop. There was parking on the street that its on, and that one you have to pay for. We saw some spots open on the street, however I can picture that being a challenge later on in the day. The coffee shop itself was cute, clean and cozy. It wasn't the biggest but I genuinely think they had a good amount of seating in there. I like how they had subtle hints and decorations that pay tribute to the Filipino culture. Service was pretty good. I had no issues personally. Staff greeted me with a smile, I felt that they were very patient and they helped me find a drink that fit into my cravings. Pretty good service overall. I saw them constantly hustling to make sure things were clean and that customers were well taken care of. For drinks, we had the pandan latte (iced) and the ube chai latte (iced). Both were pretty good! My only thingis with the pandan, I do wish the pandan taste was a little stronger, but I appreciate how the coffee didn't overpower it. The Ube Chai was really good and pretty! I had no issues with it and really enjoyed it! For food, we had the pinoy poutine and the longanisa and tocino candied bacon silog. I enjoyed both dishes. The poutine was really good! I enjoyed the coconut gravy and thought it was a creative take on poutine. The silog satisfied my craving. Its pretty hard to butcher a silog dish, they didn't butcher it and I was happy. The candied tocino was so good, I wish I had more. I loved this find. Please open in San Diego lol. But when I come back to Chicago, I don't mind coming here. I also loved how I saw many different people of different ethnic backgrounds trying Filipino dishes and drinks (I'm Filipino lol). I think this place did a great job and I hope to see them again soon! read more

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Saw this place on instagram and wanted to check this out since they recently opened and I was in town for the weekend. Love the name of the cafe-it's simple and catchy. However, mano is an honorary gesture in the Filipino culture which is a sign of respect to elders and as a way of requesting a blessing from the elder. The person giving the greeting bows towards the hand of the elder and presses their forehead on the elder's hand. The inside was definitely had the chill coffee shop vibes with cute decor. I can see myself definitely having coffee and studying or having a small meet up here. The decor is so cute that they even have a little tabo hanging in the bathroom. When you are Filipino, you know what I'm talking about. I ordered the pandan iced latte with almond milk and my mom got the ube latte. Delicious! Smooth and on point! I had to get less pandan syrup since you really couldn't adjust the sweetness; therefore I barely tasted the pandan. My mom said the ube latte was good but too strong for her. Anyone that likes coffee, this is on point for a latte. I also got the combo bowl with tocino and longanisa for $9. It came with two thin pieces of tocino, 1 egg, 1 longanisa, and garlic rice. Perfect for the price. Tocino was like bacon...I was expecting thicker pieces. Longanisa was delish with the fried rice. Overall, it was a good Filipino bowl for a reasonable price. I would love have tried the pan de sliders. Maybe next time. We also tried the space yam cookies. They were a bit too sweet for me with the coconut. I can barely taste the ube as well. It would be nice to have pastries available besides cookies and the $9 ube tiramisu. Definitely looking forward to coming back! Nice to see more Filipino options here in the city! read more

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Absolutely love new Filipino restaurants popping up in the area. Street parking, open early and through dinner. Fireplace by the front windows, multiple drinks and foods available. Handicap entrance, but the counter to order has stairs so I'm not sure how that is handled. My wife and I went early morning on a weekday as soon as they opened. Limited seating inside, but we were able to get out items quickly. Filipino breakfast is served all day but it is very expensive for their servings. We got the longanisa (2pc) and spam (1pc) combo and it was around 10 after tax, but compared to Uncle Mike's around the corner, their portion seemed like an appetizer. I ordered an Ube latte. I took the pistachio milk (cost extra) vs whole milk. I was surprised and happy to see the it was not overly sweetened for a latte or an Ube drink. It's was more creamy from the milk and very subtle Ube flavor. The milk almost masks the purple potato flavor. I noticed that their lattes depend on their espresso machine. Unfortunately it produces one at a time so during rush hours, expect a wait. read more

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Love to see my culture flourishing throughout the city of Chicago! I came to show my support and it hit the spot after a night shift in the hospital. I was really surprised by their menu items for all 3 meals of the day - makes me want to come back and try them all! For breakfast I got the longsilog (my fav filipino breakfast) and it was very good! To drink I got the pandan latte and I love that the flavor was subtle and didn't taste artificial. Would love to try the ube latte next! read more

Mano Modern Cafe - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Overall Thoughts: The vibes in Mano are great-- though a small-ish space and can get crowded, it's decorated aesthetically with cool, purplish lighting. The music wasn't too loud, so it's a great environment for doing some light work and the playlist was great. The staff are really nice too. While I enjoyed the variety of the Asian-inspired drink flavors and the Filipino/Filipino-inspired food items, the drink flavors were too mild and the food portions were too small for the price. Nonetheless, it's a wonderful vibe and the food is overall solid in taste, so I'd always be down to come back to chill, do some work, and try their other creative drinks and food options. Food I tried: - Pandan Latte (4/5): Tasted good overall, though the pandan flavor was very light and difficult to detect. - Vegan Chorizo Bowl (4/5): This tasted pretty good with solid flavors all around, but I wish it came with more chorizo. The garlic rice was also a little lacking in flavor. My main gripe was that the portion size is pretty small, and I still felt peck-ish afterwards. - Lumpia (4.4/5):Tasted good-- pretty meaty in flavor with very crispy texture. - Tiramisube (4.6/5): Such a soft and moist cake with soft, light frosting/cream. The ube flavor was there, but not very strong. It's a little pricey ($8), but easily shareable amongst people. -- Price (relative to peers): 4.2/5 Food: 4.2/5 Ambience: 4.9/5 Service: 4.8/5 Overall Value: 4.4/5 read more

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I've been meaning to come here to grab some breakfast for a long time and I finally made it! The inside is very trendy and looks like it would be a nice spot to catch up with friends or even to do some work on your own. The staff were friendly and recommended the tocino bacon sandwich which was absolutely amazing! The combo of the sauce and yummy bacon went perfectly with the runny yolk and soft bread. I also ordered an iced ube chai tea which was nothing like I've ever had. I'll definitely be back to try the bowls and lumpia next time I'm in town! read more

Mano Modern Cafe - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I tried their ube chai and it's so good! It's a cute coffee shop with Filipino food and drinks. I'd come back to chill. They also have plenty of seatings under cool AC and mellow soft R&B music. read more

Mano Modern Cafe - Ube chai with oatmilk to go :) - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been seeing this cafe on ig a lot and I was in the area and decided to give it a try. They have a very quiet, cozy, modern interior design of the cafe. It's really cute and I'd love to come and sit here to work or study. I tried the ube latte and the beef bowl with added tofu. The beef bowl was really well flavored. The added tofu was chopped in dice sized and I was charged $5 for just a little bit of it which wasn't quite worth it. The ube latte was made with ube syrup when I was expected real ube paste so that was my fault. Overall it was a nice try if this cafe. read more

Mano Modern Cafe - Ube latte - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The space is quite small but they make good use of it! There looks to be seating for maybe 25? I love the decor and extra points for the walis tingting (IYKYK) I met up with a friend for lunch on Friday- we didn't realize they hadn't had their grand opening yet!! We didn't even have to wait to get in or order. I ordered a white rabbit latte with oatmilk and for foodi ordered the combo silog bowl. It was delish- and of course loved the garlic rice. Their tocino is more like bacon as opposed to being like thicker tapa. I wish I asked for my egg to be over easy, it came well done. I also ordered a tiramisube--YUMMMMM!! I am loving all the Filipino restaurants here. I'll def be back. read more

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Super duper cozy. All the food smelled amazing. All I got was a latte but I was sitting there wishing I was dining in while waiting for my drink. Very homey feel. Well-heated and cute interior. Latte was not too hot and not too sweet! read more

Stopped in for lunch with some friends on a Sunday! I had been wanting to try Filipino food so I was excited when I saw Mano open!! The space has a decent number of tables but is pretty small so it's a little tight but we were able to find a table! We ordered at the cafe counter and they brought our food out to us very timely. I got the adobo pulled pork bowl and it was really yummy! I was excited for the "pineapple slaw" and there wasn't that much. The ratio of ingredients would have been better to have a little less rice. But it was a good satisfying portion, especially for the price. I'd love to come back and try their unique coffee drinks! I love coffee shops that have actual substantial food menus and I love the uniqueness of this one. A great addition to chicago! read more

Mano Modern Cafe - Adobo pulled pork bowl - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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For my first visit, I tried the breakfast bowl with longanisa (sweet Filipino breakfast sausage), Tocino candied bacon, fried egg, garlic rice, green onion & Lumpia & Tiramisube & Pandan Latte w/ pistachio milk My favorite dish was the Lumpia rolls, crispy and delicious. The other meats, longanisa and Tocino bacon, were also tasty. Garlic rice did not have garlic flavor. Tiramisube was a great tiramisu but no ube flavor. Pandan Latte w/ pistachio milk did not have Pandan flavor. If it did, it was overpowered by the pistachio milk and they should revisit the ratios. But I went back the next morning to try a different combo - ube chai and I could distinctly taste the ube and chai flavors. Employees are nice. I like the modern interior design but they try to pack as much seating as possible into a small space so there's a lot of noise. This is a decent place to get a light/simple lunch but not to relax like a typical cafe. read more

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This was such a cool place to go to and we came at the right time, because as soon as we finished eating I looked up and every seat was full! The ticket times were great for us, maybe 5-7 minute wait for our drinks and food. But of course this depends on how busy it gets and like I mentioned - it gets busy! But it's a small but cute space. Great vibes and great decor. But now the food quality - SO GOOD. We got two lattes, Ube and Pandan (if you're not familiar it's a southeast Asian plant usually used in desserts and the dessert will have a green color). We also ordered two meals - the Spam Silog (spam and eggs over rice) and Spam Pan de Slider - a fun take on a spam egg and cheese slider but using Filipino bread rolls. The spam silog was so good! The rice was garlic fried rice and it worked really well with the spam and egg. And the egg being runny over the spam and rice? A Filipino classic and I loved it. Just know that if you want ketchup with it (which I'm a KETCHUP FIEND), you have to ask them. Condiments aren't on the side for you to grab. And the Spam Pan de Slider was great! Great idea of the pandesal as a roll for spam and eggs. The cheese was a good move and the egg was still runny! The lattes were both great! Subtle notes of each flavor with espresso and oat milk. By the way - their milk substitutes are either oat or pistachio milk! 5/5 would recommend! Big notes - it's a small space and fills up quickly. Also the ordering area is on a staircase, which is slightly inaccessible. But the service was great so I'm sure they would be more than happy to help take your order even if you aren't able to go up! read more

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I came here on a Saturday afternoon to study. It's a small cozy place - providing both studious and social vibes. Depending on where you sit there are outlet plugs available. There is paid parking on Ashland street. We ordered the lumpia and the iced caramel latte. I recommend the lumpia - perfectly fried and delicious filling. The lumpia is bite sized. Heard good reviews about their other food so will be back to try it out read more

I'm so glad that another Filipino spot has opened up near West Town/Wicker! Mano Modern Cafe was packed on a Saturday morning, and it makes sense why! Their food and coffees are delicious! I came back again on Wednesday morning! I tried the longanisa Pan de slider, which has egg, cheese, bang bang sauce, and longanisa (a sweet and savory sausage) in between two big buns. I would prefer less dense buns but thats just my preference! It was delicious and I would get it again. I also tried the combo sisig (egg, longanisa, tocino (bacon), over rice). It was a filling portion size and so tasty! The tocino was incredibly flavorful and more on the sweet side which I really enjoyed. For drinks, I tried the white rabbit latte and pandan latte. The white rabbit latte was lightly sweet which I enjoyed. The pandan latte was my favorite of the two! I got it iced, and the flavor profile definitely comes out and is a beautiful green color. I also learned I've been saying pandan wrong my entire life lol. It is pronounced phonetically "pon don". Oops! Definitely worth checking out. Warning that it is packed on the weekend morning but just be prepared for that and don't let it deter you. Weekday morning around 8 is populated but not busy, so you won't have to wait long! read more

Mano Modern Cafe - Pan de slider (longanisa) - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Recommended to visit this cute Filipino coffee shop/cafe by a colleague. The interior has a contemporary fresh design with their order counted in the far back, up a short set of steps. When we visited on a Saturday afternoon, there was a mix of friends catching up and a number of people independently working. I imagine it's more crowded (louder) during mealtimes. My husband and I ordered an iced Ube Matcha Latte with pistachio milk (with some guidance from the cashier) and an iced Calamansi tea. The Calamansi was an inhouse made juice; freshing as described. I was grateful that my latte wasn't overly sweet (often happens with Ube flavoring) but it did overpower the matcha. Half way through, I realized my latte reminded me of a flavored vito-soy; not good not bad, but familiar! We also ordered a Pinoy Poutine to share. The portion was perfect for us to share. My favorite part were the fried cheese curds! We enjoyed sitting outside since it was a beautiful overcast day (despite the location being off the bustling car-dominated Ashland. It's a bit far to walk from our place, but I'd happily come back to meet up with a friend or two and try their Filipino breakfast. Cheers to a great neighborhood spot in West Town. Gotta thank my colleague for the rec (: read more

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I'm Filipino so take this with a grain of salt. For starters we had the pandan and ube chai. Both freshly satisfying if a touch too sweet. Next we had the tocino burger, pulled pork adobo burger and the longanisa(sausage) rice bowl. All were fine not bad. The longanisa with egg is probably my pick. If you're looking for something different check this place out. It's not too ethnic, the food is familiar to westerners with just a little Filipino twist. read more

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The pandan latte and longanisa breakfast wrap were incredible. Glad I stopped on my walk tow work!

Cute cafe decor, great staff and service - however ridiculous prices for subpar food... the portions were small for what the price and tasted unremarkable - not much flavor compared to other Filipino food places in the city I've ate, my friend didn't even finish her spam bowl it was lackluster. Latte was solid, again $7 is too much $$ for a small chai pandan latte. read more

Mano Modern Cafe - Tocino bowl - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm a bit upset with my experience at Mano. My friends and I have been looking forward to trying out Mano for a while since we're Filipino and love supporting Filipino businesses. Let's start with the food, The Pinoy poutine was amazing and flavorful and the Calamansi juice just hits right. Perfect and delicious. The tiramisube was not too sweet and fluffy which was good but a bit dry for tiramisu. I got the burger steak silog which was a popular item in their menu but was so disappointed because of how bland it was! Seriously. I was scanning the cafe for salt because the steak (and egg) was unseasoned and not enough gravy to compensate. I usually hate wasting food and would just eat but I couldn't finish it at all. My friend had the longanisa + tocino bacon which were ok she liked it so we had no issues there. The service is what really put a downer on our experience I think. The worker who took our order was very rude. They slammed the tiramisu on the counter, causing the forks to fall off, rolled their eyes multiple times at us and was not very friendly with their tone which was so weird! When they brought the poutine down at our table they basically tossed the poutine at us and rolled their eyes which made us feel uncomfortable. I politely asked if we offended them in anyway in which they said "it's just been a long day". Look, I understand having a bad day but I feel like we didn't deserve that treatment especially since we've been so polite to the staff the entire time we were there. We got there at 6ish, too. So it's not like we came to eat 20 mins before closing. We were just left confused to why we were treated that way and it's really enough for me to not recommend this place over all. We were there only customers dining in since we got there, so it's not like they were super busy either. We didn't get an apology from them whatsoever, and the experience made my friend almost cry because of how they acted. Overall I wouldn't recommend this cafe, but don't let my bad experience deter you from trying it out. read more

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Delicious food and excellent service! It's a small place but is very welcoming. We ordered the calamansi drink, breakfast sandwich and a longanisa & spam rice bowl. All very good. read more

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The food, drinks, and service? Fantastic--easily 5/5 stars. I'd go again in a heartbeat. But only for takeout. Why? Because the door doesn't close. In a small café, especially in winter, that's a dealbreaker. People constantly come and go, leaving the door wide open, and there's nothing in place to ensure it closes. My partner and I got up six times to shut it before giving up. This isn't just a minor annoyance--it completely ruined the experience. The patrons around us were all talking about the same issue. The café needs a heavier door or a sign reminding customers to close it. Until then, I can't recommend dining in--at least not in the winter. A real shame, because the food is excellent. read more

Good place for a casual but nice brunch when you're tired of the typical pancake and waffle type joints! The space is small but very clean and well maintained, and your brunch options are a mix of nicely prepared Filipino classics like their silog (garlic rice bowls with an egg and your choice of meat) or adobo chicken and pork. The coffee options are straightforward with some interesting Filipino inspired drinks like the ube latte, or the even more interesting pandan latte which is a combination I've never had before. We got the adobo chicken, tocino + longanisa bowl, a pandan latte, and a to-go "tiramisube" (an ube tiramisu). The chicken was savory, lean and shredded but still pretty juicy, with a more soy sauce-y and less vinegary kick than lots of other places. The rice bowl wasn't huge but the garlic rice was flavorful, the two longanisas (sweet savory sausage) were juicy with a nice bite on the outside, and the tocino wasn't traditional the cut of sliced pork but was instead thin slices of tocino flavored bacon which was delicious in its own way. The pandan latte had a nice flavor and a very aesthetic look before mixing the pandan. The tiramisube was creamy and had a nice ube flavor that didn't overpower the classic espresso taste of the tiramisu, although it could've been a bit less sweet. While the menu isn't very big, this place is a nice addition to the area and a nice break from your typical Chicago coffeeshop and cafes! read more

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Cute cafe with great service. Had a decent selection of classic coffee drinks with phillipino variations on drinks as well. I ordered the spam slider and the longanisa wrap which was a good as I expected it to be. I would definitely come back. read more

Mano is probably one of my new favorite breakfast spots in Chicago! My friend and I stopped by on their opening day and we ordered the Pandan Latte, Ube Latte, a rice bowl with bacon and sausage, and their Tiramisube. The lattes were so good with strong flavors of both the ube and the pandan. It was pretty sweet and they give you a generous amount for the cost. The garlic rice bowl was so good and the bacon was incredible. The tiramisube was also fantastic, though I probably wouldn't order it on a regular basis. The inside has a good amount of indoor seating, and the service was quick and friendly. I am looking forward to going back to try other things on the menu! read more

Mano Modern Cafe - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm Filipino so it's always amazing to hear about Filipino restaurants in the area and I always make it a point to drop by when I'm in Chicago. I went on an early weekday morning and was surprised to see that there were already patrons inside. I ordered the ube latte which - contrary to reviews - was disappointing for me but only because I thought it would taste a lot like ube. It just tasted like a regular latte with the slightest hint of ube. I guess coffee connoisseurs would prefer that though. I also got the adobo bowl which for me did not taste like adobo at all. Portion was also small given the price. If you're in the mood for amazing Filipino food, I suggest Uncle Mike's which is a 10-min walk away. read more

Shout out to tho hidden dem in wicker park/Ukrainian village area!! Their drinks are so good!!

Cute mom and pop addition to Ashland that just opened last week! It's an Asian-owned cafe and the menu is Filipino inspired. The shop is decorated with plants that are for sale as well. The owner was very nice and explained the drinks to us when we asked for recommendations. We ordered their Ube Latte, Matcha Chai, and Pandan Latte. Really enjoyed all three! read more

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Love the vibe in this cute Filipino cafe that is perfect for meeting friends for a lively meal! Found parking easily on the streets and was served by very friendly and helpful staff. Thankful that we ordered ahead because our food and drink were ready when we arrived and didn't have to stand in the long line that was out the door. Tried the longanisa slider, tiramisube and cold ube chai. All were delicious and just perfect for the quick bite I needed before heading to the airport. One tip...eat the slider over a napkin because the overeasy egg and juicy sausage can get a little messy. Will be back in town soon and look forward to trying some of the other items on their menu! read more

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Since Kasama came around, there has been a crop of Filipino restaurants popping up in Chicago. Mano Modern Cafe seems to fill in the breakfast and brunch with coffee or afternoon tea niche. Inevitably, comparisons are made to Kasama, which can be considered the "gold standard" in Chicago. The cafe itself is located along Ashland, and street parking is usually plentiful in the mornings and early afternoon. The interior is decorated cleanly. Food-wise, the breakfast sandwich (pan de slider) is not as good as Kasama's. Overall, the sandwich itself is not as flavorful, and the bread feels a little too soft and without texture. The rice bowls (Silogs) are really where this cafe shines. The serving size is a little smaller than Kasama's, but has similar flavor and holds its own against its Michelin-starred brethren down the street. Additionally, make sure to order a lumpia, which always came out piping hot and freshly fried. Drink-wise, I enjoyed the coffee-based drinks much more than Kasama. The Ube latte was more ube-forward, whereas Kasama's was a bit heavier on the cream and milk. A footnote - according to Filipino friends, Mano refers to a gesture and phrase of respect to elders, usually initiated by persons of younger age. Hence, the large "Mano po!" signage on the window of the cafe. Overall, Mano Modern cafe is a solid addition to Chicago's rapidly growing Filipino culinary scene. In my books, it's dug itself a solid niche as a local brunch and coffee spot that is far more accessible than Kasama and also provides its own solid offerings. Definitely a spot that I will be frequenting. read more

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This is a really cool lowkey spot to have coffee and get some work done. It is a fairly small space and tables are all first come, first serve, so try to go during less popular hours of the day. There's also small desk tables for one if you have work to be done too. The menu had a variety of staple Filipino food and it was exciting to check out. I ordered the longanisa and bacon combo and got a pandan iced latte. The food comes out fast, but it did take a while for the drinks to come out because everyone ordered coffee. The food was a bit underwhelming especially for its price, I rarely could taste the flavor of the longanisa and tocino. The coffee was unique and really good flavor overall. I do highly recommend trying their lumpia. It was about $30 for everything and was hoping for a little Filipino authenticity with their food, but I would go back to try more coffee. read more

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Really cute spot! Seem like a good place for work, free WiFi. Beautifully lit inside too. Service is fast and very friendly. Excited to see the place grow and thrive. Definitely recommend this place for drinks! Loved the pandan chai and the ube latte. read more

Mano Modern Cafe - Longsilog breakfast rice, truffle fries, pandas chai, ube latte - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is comparable to Kasama. No I'm not saying that it's as good but if you don't want to deal with the lines or wait times of Kasama pick up then the longanisa here will suffice. There's no pastries like at Kasama either. The star of the show was the breakfast slider featuring Longanisa & the bang bang sauce definitely elevated the sandwich. The truffle fries were good but had ZERO truffle flavor & can get soggy if left in their "to go" container as they'll steam. Hash-browns were ok. The Longanisa rice bowl was the snoozer of the meal. It lacked flavor & damn near caused me to remove a star. In closing if Day get here because dare I say again that this could be a plan B if you're into Longanisa & don't feel like going to Kasama. Kasama aside this is a very good breakfast sandwich! read more

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This cafe is a cool space perfect for enjoying a drink and getting some work done! We got the Ube Matcha Latte with oat milk. It had an earthy flavor from the matcha mixed with sweet vanilla flavor from the ube. Overall it wasn't too sweet and the flavors blended well together. I would've wanted just a little more oat milk to add a creamy flavor. The staff very friendly and I got to watch them make my drink in the coffee bar right next to the counter. read more

Mano Modern Cafe - Filipino Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ideal for a young crowd on a budget meal. Lower your expectation from real Filipino restaurants or like when your Filipino friends will bring an authentic dish at a potluck. Food here is still delicious but it's comfort food picnic style. My tosilog wasn't the real deal, it was bacon, $10. The pork adobo bowl was shredded pork with rice, $10 ++ . The calamansi juice $ 5++ was excellent! The cashier was pleasant, kind enough to offer breakfast dish at lunch period. There is no waiter. Order at the counter and they bring your food to your table. Vacated tables were not wiped down and sanitized. I still gave 10% tip for service that was like fast food style. There was a lot of Filipino touches on the walls here and there but there was no Filipino staff at that time to give the same hospitality and warmth. Note: 1) the place is not wheelchair accessible including the washroom 2) street parking read more

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